Steam trains, Snow and Royal Weddings

A steam train went by this morning. I was still in bed because I wasn’t feeling too well when I heard the familiar puffa puffa. I got up but couldn’t see out of our bedroom window for condensation, so I rushed into my son’s room just in time to see it go by in a swirl of smoke, it’s chocolate brown carriages looking so beautiful against the snow.

It reminded me of when we used to take the children to the Santa specials at Bulmers. There was a short ride on a steam train with mince pies and hot punch for the grown ups and presents for the children. I remember going when Chris was 7, Cat was 3 and Tony 5 months. We had only paid for the 2 children but Father Christmas called us back as we were leaving and gave us a gift for ‘ the babe in arms’. He was too young for it, but I saved it for him and told him all about it. Isn’t it lovely when people do unexpected little things like that.

Yesterday was the first time the dog had seen snow. She is 6 months now and ran outside, then stopped and looked up with a puzzled expression. It was so sweet.

It all looks very pretty but it’s really cold. Thank goodness Tony lent us the money to repair the woodburning stove and we got a big load of logs in just 2 days ago. Yes, that’s the same Tony who was ‘the babe in arms’ ,now my big strong son looking after his ‘ageing’ parents. He’s spending the weekend with his girlfriend. It seems to be getting pretty serious. Who knows perhaps there will be a new ‘babe in arms’ in the not to distant future!

They’ve fixed the date for the Royal wedding and it’s on Cat’s birthday! It will be almost 30 years since the last one. Charles and Diana were married the year my eldest son was born. I can’t believe he will be 30 this year. It’s funny because I was born the year the queen married. Our doctor, who was also a friend of the family, gave me a crown coin with the date on it which I still have, so I got one for Chris with the date of Charles and Diana’s wedding on it. Come to think of it that means it should be next year our first grandchild will be born. We have to keep up the tradition!